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Subtlety of Sin

Friends, let me reiterate that these meditations are not written with anyone in mind but myself. If they are not helpful, please ignore them, but do find a source of spiritual nourishment somewhere.

I caught myself being sarcastic last night. Had I not embarked on this exercise, I’m sure the comment would have passed without a second thought. But I couldn’t dismiss the fact that earlier that day I had made a conscious decision to bridle my tongue. So I had to confess my sin. 

Was it an earth-shattering sin? Depends on how you look at it. No, I didn’t ruin anyone else’s life and I didn’t wreck my own life. So from that point of view, it wasn’t big. But was it a sin for which my Savior had to die? Yes! Our holy God cannot tolerate even a smidgen of sin. So if I consider that the One I worship and adore had to suffer and die for that sin, then I must admit that yes, it was a big sin. The confession gave me opportunity to get close to my Savior, so while I hate the sin that requires confession, I love the closeness that confession brings.

A single weed may not be a big deal, but if left alone, it will not be alone long. I want to “keep short accounts” with my Savior, quickly confessing and repenting of my sins, and making sure nothing comes between us. Speaking of weeds, Hebrews 13:15 says, “See to it that … no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.” I’ve heard it said that bitterness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies. To a degree that’s true, but according to Hebrews 13:15, bitterness isn’t a “victimless sin,” but may potentially defile many. How can that happen unless the bitterness, which is in the heart, overflows from my mouth? If unchecked, bitterness will not only seek to hurt my enemy, but also enlist more people to hurt my enemy, defiling them in the process.

So on top of complaining and sarcasm, I add another “guard over my mouth”—that of gossip. From the root of bitterness often comes the fruit of gossip.

The goal isn’t to prevent complaints, sarcasm, and gossip from coming out of my mouth by sheer force of will. That would just be external legalism that plucks the fruit while ignoring the root. I’m seeking authenticity here, not deeper hypocrisy. Instead, the goal is to set off an alarm when those things do well up so that I can address the issues in my heart. This mouth exercise is designed to disable my [rather skilled] attempts to justify my behavior, get below the surface, and call sin “sin.” Authenticity comes from dealing with my sin, not covering it over. Then, having faced the darkness in my heart, I come to the Light, the Lord Jesus, so he can expel it. 

I ask myself the tough questions: Why don’t I love? Why am I so hurt? How has God shown mercy to me? Astonished by God’s demonstration of love in the sacrifice of his Son, and assured of his acceptance, I find the courage to answer these questions without excusing myself. I find the freedom to vent to him, and when appropriate, I confess my struggles with trusted brothers and sisters who can shed light on my life.

I roll up my sleeves and do battle with my fallen human nature. To quote John Piper (who I cite freely without endorsing everything he’s ever said), “Don’t wait for the miracle; live the miracle!” In other words, I’m not passive in the war against sin, but actively fighting by faith, convinced that Jesus wants my holiness even more than I do, convinced that when I fight, he provides the grace for me to have victory.


Tonight, my prayer comes from Psalm 141:3, “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.”

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